Thursday, April 13, 2006

China's three evils: Xinjiang, Xinjiang, Xinjiang

China's fight against the "three evils" of separatism, extremism and terrorism continues unabated!

After meeting Turkmenistan's President Saparmurat Niyazov last week (here), it is now the turn of Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev, who is in Beijing for a three-day official visit as guest of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. (here)

As the Turkmen leader Niyazov and Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged a few days ago, so did the Kazakh Foreign Minister: their countries will work together to root out what they called the "three evils": terrorism, separatism, and extremism.The primary target of this pledge is clear, in that the only grouping specifically named in the joint declaration is the "East Turkestan" separatist movement, which seeks independence for China's 19 million Muslim Uyghurs in the western Xinjiang Province.

It goes without saying that the continous meetings with high echelons of neighbouring countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has only one common feature: fight the Uighurs' struggle for independence.

"The Chinese state councilor spoke highly of the firm support Kazakhstan offered over the years on the Taiwan issue and China's fight against the "three forces" of separatism, extremism and terrorism.

China will continue to firmly support Kazakhstan's efforts in maintaining national independence, sovereignty and developing the national economy,"